The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-27
HER BOATMAN.


HER BOATMAN.
1t was a moonlight night. The river.
dark and sullcn. moved in its rocky bed
like some gigantic serpent half over
come by the lethargy of sleep.
s Here and there the moonbeams fell
upon the surface of the water. great
spots OF silvery whiteness. amidst the
dark shadows cast BY the heavy foliage
OF the cedar shrubbery which grew be-
tween the almost perpendicular rocks of
the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
water they reared themselves. and at
one point they jutted forward as if to
salute each other. while the river be-
meath them deepened and narrowed.
At this point bridge had once been
thrown across-a bridge which had be-
come a complete ruin. one timber alone
remaining to mark the spot one long
and narrow beam--it could not have
been more. than six inches IN width
still maintained its place. and in mute
language informed the stranger that
once there had been connection be-
tween Rocky Hill and the mountains
on the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
was small rowboat. containing slen-
der. crouching form wrapped in dark
cloak.
From the top of the bank upon either
side this rowboat would have been m
visible, but it was there. making its
way up and down past the rocky butt
ress which upheld the beam. ALWAYS
avoiding the moonlit spots upon the
r.ver.
ing the place Of the quiet of the night.
The drunken jest and the course laugh
Ter breaking i'll upon the sentimental
notes of Home, Sweet Home sung,
you would have averred. by some lone
" Youth who was far from the scenes
Of his 10y hood-came plainly to the
ears of this silent watcher upon the riv-
er. who. it seemed, could not tear her.
self away from the sounds which came
from the saloon upon the rivers bank.
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair, upturned face.
II was the face of woman who
should meyer have been in that wild,
lonely spot listening for the sound of
a yo &c that hal grown TO address her
with refined words which were the
crueist of the cruel. waiting there up
| on that lonely river, for she knew not
what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married.
when very Young. man whom she
had worshipped as the embodiment of
manly worth and the perfection of
manly beauty. Friends and relatives
had crowded about her with epvious
congratulations. and for . time her
life was perfect happiness.
| But change had come. Fred War
her was not what he had seemed. On
" few short weeks Of happiness. and
the handsome husband plunged into
the widest dissipation. Friends re-
NAMED to her as long as the money re-
manned. aud then they began to hint
that perhaps Muriel was not altogether
| blameless.
This was something which tbs spir-
tied wife could not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends, and chung to
the dssi pated man who was her hus-
band. From one city TO another he had
dragged her with hE, a4d COW he had
deserted her and she had followed him.
His gas the cultured voice which
warbled of "Helie, Sweet Home. "
while his wife was a PAINLESS. half
crazed creature, out urop the Fiver.
And she was penniless, for, regard
less of food or shelter, she had paid
out her last cent for the use Of the
boat which brought her, unseen, Yet
nearer to him.
A quick, sharp report broke in up
on the mellow voice OF the singer.
1t was repeated again and again.
1t was the report Of a revolver.
Meriel could hear the exsited shouts,
the heavy trampling of feet, the bang
ing of a door, and then the weird cry,
'Murder!' 49,
Halt paralyzed. the frightened wo-
man restad upon her oars just under
the beam which had once belonged to
the old bridge.
The sound of heavy feet, rapidly
approaching, came from the bank
close at hand. and then a dark form
rushed out between her and the moon
lit sky above her.
1t was a mans figure, and he was 4t-
tempting to cross the river upon the
narrow beam,
Excited shouts and the tramp of
hurried feet followed him to the river S
brink.
Stop" shouted a voice. u arrest
you for murder
No reply came from the escaping
figure. which sped nimbly along its
narrow way.
! A sharp sllar1s of revolvers follow
ed; shot after shot was fired. and then
/ the dark figure wavered, the bands
grasped wildly at the air, and then
there was fall.
| The water dcluged Mnrel with a
shower Of Drops as the body entered
the water. Shouts 4nd the exultant re-
treating voices held Lef attention until
she felt something creeping into the boat
behind her.
She turned and uttered q faint
shrek.
A man, and more than likely the
murderer. had taken possession of her
little crait,
Give me the 0ars.' said stern,
musical voice.
You are not wounded. then" sle
said, shrinking away from the dripping
hguEs.
II am not wounded" returned the
voice, and then silently the boat was
rowed into the deepest shadQws and up